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Indianapolis Indians

Indians Wash Away RailRiders 2-0

May 8, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


MOOSIC, PA -- Despite a two hour and 28 minute rain delay in the middle of the contest, the Indianapolis Indians (23-11) earned a 2-0 shutout victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (18-13) on Wednesday morning at PNC Field as Tribe starter Kris Johnson allowed just two hits over 5.0 innings and center fielder Felix Pie plated the only two runs of the contest with a two-run homer in the top of the third.

The Indians looked as though they needed just one pitcher and one swing of the bat to take a 2-1 series lead over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday morning. With a strong start and key homer the Tribe took a 2-0 lead into the top of the sixth, where heavy rains looked to potentially end the contest. However, following a two hour and 28 minute delay, play would resume, but nothing would change as the Indianapolis bullpen finished out the contest with 4.0 scoreless frames of work to give the Indians their International League leading fifth shutout of the season.

Coming off his worst outing of the season in which he allowed more earned runs than his previous five outings combined, LHP Kris Johnson (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) turned the tides and battled through the rain to earn his third victory of the season. The southpaw starter allowed just two singles and a walk while striking out five, and set down the RailRiders in order in a torrential downpour in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead the Indians to the win.

Johnson's outing continues a dominant month of May for Tribe starters, who have now combined to go 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA (8 ER in 36.0 IP) during the month, allowing just 21 hits and 14 walks while striking out 32 over seven contests.

After the long delay Tribe relievers took over right where Johnson left off as right handers Ryan Reid (2.0 IP, 1 SO), Jared Hughes (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Vic Black (1.0 IP, 1 H) combined to allow just one hit over 4.0 scoreless innings of relief. Reid tossed two scoreless to earn his third hold and lower his ERA to a miniscule 0.48, while Hughes picked up his first hold since rejoining the Tribe and Black notched his team-best eighth save with a scoreless ninth.

While Johnson and company shut down Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Indians got all the offense they needed from the suddenly surging Felix Pie.

After 3B Jared Goedert drew a one-out walk in the top of the third inning, Pie stepped to the plate and on the first pitch belted a longball over the left field wall. The homer was Pie's second of the season and of the series after he also connected on a two-run shot in game one on Monday.

Overall, in the first three games of the series against the RailRiders, Pie has collected five hits, scored twice, driven in five and stolen three bases. The former Chicago Cubs top prospect has begun to turn things around since a slow start to the season, as after hitting just .138 through his first 16 games, he has produced a .333 average (10-for-30) with two homers, six RBI and four stolen bases over his last nine games.

RailRiders' starter Graham Stoneburner (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the tough luck loss to drop to 2-2 on the season after allowing just two runs over 5.0 innings of work. Following Stoneburner, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre relievers Sam Demel (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO), Clay Rapada (1.0 IP, 1 H) and Josh Spence (1.0 IP, 2 BB) held the Tribe to just two hits over 4.0 scoreless innings of relief.

The Indians will now look to earn a series victory in the final contest of the four-game set on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. Top prospect Gerrit Cole (2-1, 2.45 ERA) is expected to take the mound in search of his third win of the season for Indianapolis, while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has yet to name a starter.

The game will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:15 p.m.

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